Korean Delivery Apps Guide
How to order food delivery in Korea as a foreigner: app comparisons, step-by-step ordering guide, payment methods, and tips for navigating Korean-language interfaces.
Korean Delivery Culture (배달 문화)
Korea has one of the fastest and most developed food delivery ecosystems in the world. Delivery (배달 / baedal) is deeply ingrained in Korean culture -- you can get virtually anything delivered to your door within 20-40 minutes, from hot restaurant meals to convenience store snacks to groceries. Unlike many Western countries, delivery in Korea is not limited to pizza and fast food. Korean BBQ, sushi, full-course meals, and even late-night fried chicken (치맥 / chimaek -- chicken and beer) are all standard delivery fare.
The average Korean orders delivery 2-3 times per week. As a foreigner, mastering delivery apps will make your life significantly more convenient, especially when you are tired after work and do not want to cook or go out.
Major Delivery Apps Comparison
Three apps dominate Korea's food delivery market. Here is how they compare:
| App | Korean Name | Market Share | Delivery Fee | English Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baemin | 배달의민족 | Largest (#1) | 0-4,000 KRW | Some English UI |
| Coupang Eats | 쿠팡이츠 | #2, growing fast | 0-4,000 KRW | Most foreigner-friendly |
| Yogiyo | 요기요 | #3 | 0-3,000 KRW | Korean only |
Recommendation: Start with 쿠팡이츠 (Coupang Eats) if you cannot read Korean, as it has the best English interface. Once you are more comfortable, add 배달의민족 (Baemin) for its larger restaurant selection. Many restaurants are available on multiple apps, so you can compare delivery fees and promotions.
Step-by-Step Ordering Guide
Here is how to place your first order, with Korean UI terms translated:
Payment Methods & Fees
Korean delivery apps accept several payment methods:
- Credit/debit card (카드결제): Register your Korean bank card in the app. International cards (Visa, Mastercard) sometimes work but may require a Korean billing address.
- KakaoPay (카카오페이): Link your bank account or card through KakaoTalk. Very convenient and widely accepted across all delivery platforms.
- TossPay (토스페이): Another popular mobile payment option linked to the Toss (토스) app. Easy to set up if you already use Toss for banking.
- Pay on delivery (만나서결제): Some restaurants allow you to pay cash or card when the food arrives. Less common now but still available.
Delivery fees (배달비):Typically range from 0-4,000 KRW per order. Some apps offer free delivery promotions or subscription plans -- 쿠팡이츠 has a "Coupang Rocket" membership and 배달의민족 has "배민1" for reduced delivery fees.
Tipping: There is NO tipping culture in Korea. Do not tip your delivery driver -- it is not expected and can cause confusion. The delivery fee is the only additional cost beyond your food price.
Useful Korean Phrases for Delivery
If a delivery driver calls you (which is common when they cannot find your building), these phrases will help:
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 문 앞에 놓아주세요 | mun ape noajuseyo | Please leave it at the door |
| 비밀번호는 ____입니다 | bimilbeonho-neun ____imnida | The door code is ____ |
| ___층이에요 | ___cheung-ieyo | I am on the ___ floor |
| 수저/젓가락 빼주세요 | sujeo/jeotgarak ppaejuseyo | Please leave out the spoon/chopsticks |
| 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you |
Most apps have a "delivery request" (배달 요청사항) text field where you can leave instructions. Common requests include "문 앞에 놓아주세요" (leave at the door) and your building entrance code. You can also order from convenience stores like CU and GS25 through delivery apps for snacks, drinks, and daily necessities. Check our Cost of Living Calculator to see how delivery costs fit into your monthly budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to tip delivery drivers in Korea?
No. Korea does not have a tipping culture (팁 문화). Delivery drivers, restaurant staff, taxi drivers, and service workers do not expect tips. The price you see on the app is the total price you pay, including delivery fees. Adding a tip would actually confuse most Korean delivery drivers. This applies to all food delivery apps including 배달의민족 (Baemin), 쿠팡이츠 (Coupang Eats), and 요기요 (Yogiyo).
Q. Can I use delivery apps without speaking Korean?
Yes, though it requires some navigation. 쿠팡이츠 (Coupang Eats) has the most English-friendly interface among the major apps. 배달의민족 (Baemin) is mostly in Korean but has food photos and some English menu descriptions at popular restaurants. Use Papago (파파고) or Google Translate's camera feature to translate menu items in real-time. Most apps accept international credit cards registered to a Korean address, making payment straightforward even without reading Korean.
Q. What are the delivery hours in Korea?
Most restaurants on delivery apps operate from 10:00 AM to midnight, but Korea's delivery culture is famous for its late-night availability. Many chicken restaurants (치킨집), fast food chains, and convenience stores deliver until 2:00-4:00 AM. Some areas in Seoul have 24-hour delivery options. 쿠팡이츠 (Coupang Eats) and 배달의민족 (Baemin) both show real-time restaurant availability, so you can see which restaurants are currently accepting orders regardless of the hour.